FAMILIES of British jihadists who go off to fight for barbaric terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria could be stripped of their state benefits.

Theresa May has vowed to do everything necessary to counter the threat of terrorism[GETTY]

It is one of a series of measures being considered by the Government to stop would-be extremists travelling to the ­Middle East and threatening the security of Britons when they return home.

Belgium and Australia have already introduced similar legislation and last month the idea was included by a think-tank as part of a series of recommendations on counter-terrorism measures in a report to US Homeland Security.

Home Secretary Theresa May has vowed that the Government will give itself “all the legal powers” necessary to prevail against the threat of terrorism here and last night a senior Coalition source demanded benefits be stopped, saying: “We must do this as soon as the law permits. We need zero tolerance. Taxpayers should not be forking out to subsidise ­terrorism abroad.”

The proposal was backed by a raft of MPs and political leaders. Former defence minister Gerald Howarth said: “We are paying a high price for multi-culturalism that allows people to believe they can have Sharia law in Britain. We are a ­Christian country.

“The Islamic community is a tight-knit one and it is up to them to be proactive and ensure their children are not seduced by these extremists. Why should people who claim no allegiance to this country and actively act against our values be supported by taxpayers’ money?”

If people reject the British state then the British state should reject them

Tory MP Andrew Percy

Tory MP Andrew Percy said: “If people reject the British state then the British state should reject them. I am all in favour of stripping them of their citizenship and with that their benefits. If they want to go and fight for Islamic State, then Islamic State can support them and pay their child tax credits.”

Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who last week called for Britons who fight for IS to lose their citizenship, said: “Stripping jihadists and their supporters of benefits is a good idea. I think it would command overwhelming public support.”

Mr Farage said Britain could learn from Australia, which had shown “more spine” in dealing with homegrown terrorists.

Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary, who rakes in more than £25,000 a year in benefits, last year urged his followers to sponge off UK taxpayers by claiming their “Jihad-seeker’s allowance”.

He told them they had every right to take money off non-Muslims, explaining: “The normal situation is to take money from the kuffar. You work, give us the money, Allahu Akhbar (God is great).”